Treatment of contact burn injury with hypericum perforatum: An experimental study

Abstract

Aim: Burns are one of the most difficult physical and psychological traumas that people face. Generally, protection and prevention strategies from burns are practiced. The young and the elderly are most likely to be affected tragically. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of Hypericum perforatum methanol extractcontaining gel on the healing of burn wounds. Materials and Methods: Forty male rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain were divided into four groups after a 4x4 area of their back was shaved, and an experimental burn was created with the direct contact of an aluminum metal stamp heated in boiling water for 15 seconds. There was no implementation on or treatment of the control group (Group 1). Burn wounds were irrigated with saline solution (Saline group, Group 2), and silver sulphadiazine 1% (Silverdin®) cream (Group 3), Hypericum perforatum methanol extract-containing gel (Group 4), and a placebo gel (Group 5) were applied topically 4 times a day after the contact burn. Histopathological analyses of the burned area were made at 4, 8, and 24 hours. Results: The topical use of Hypericum perforatum methanol extract-containing gel in the experimental contact burns, histologically; resulted in the reduction of collagen discoloration, vascular damage and hair follicle and glandula sebaceous damage while preserving total number of hair follicles, number of vessels and epidermal thickness compared to Silver Sulphadiazine 1% (Silverdin®) cream treatment. Conclusion: Positive effects of topical Hypericum perforatum gel were detected on experimental burns and its use might have beneficial effects on acute burn wounds.